LIVE
...

Follow us on

Soccer News

Garry Monk needs to settle on a long-term midfield partner for Bridcutt at Leeds

Leeds manager Garry Monk (REUTERS)
Follow us on Google Discover

Leeds United have tried many central midfield pairings and need to settle on the best.

Leeds United manager Garry Monk

Leeds United got a much needed 2-1 victory against Blackburn Rovers earlier this week to ease the pressure somewhat on their manager Garry Monk.

But there is still plenty of work to be done, with upcoming league games against Cardiff City, Ipswich Town and Bristol City raising challenges of their own.

Bolton Wanderers' Liam Trotter in action with Leeds United's Liam Bridcutt

That said, all three are winnable if Monk gets the best out of his players, and a key factor in doing that will be ensuring he settles on a first-choice regular partnership in the centre of the park.

The problem for Leeds is that the last three matches have seen three different selections in that area, with Liam Bridcutt and Eunan O’Kane starting against Blackburn, Kalvin Phillips partnering the Scottish international against Huddersfield Town and teenager Ronaldo Vieira taking the role against Nottingham Forest.

Reading’s Danny Williams and Leeds United's Kalvin Phillips in action

Bridcutt may be a constant when fit and available but Monk has to ensure whoever plays alongside him does so regularly and effectively.

That player looked like being Matt Grimes before the campaign kicked off. However the summer signing has quickly been shunted out of the reckoning.

Despite the promise of Vieira and Phillips, O’Kane looks the likeliest option at this stage, and if Monk gets it right – and the players follow suit – Leeds could still have a very good campaign.

General view inside the stadium before the game - Elland Road